Envelop.



G. F. MOULTON.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, I911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

ji'ra 1 En. Z

GRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. u. c

CLEVELAND F. MOULTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ENVELOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed January 26, 1911. Serial No. 604,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEVELAND F. Moor.- TON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to improvements in an envelop, which is constructed for the ac commodation of either first or third class mail matter or light merchandise, and provided with a locking end, by which the envelop can be employed for either purpose.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank out of which the envelop is formed. Fig. 2 is a view of the envelop showing the same folded with a locking end projecting ready to be folded over the bottom flap 6. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing the locking end folded over the bottom flap 6 as when the envelop is to be used for third class mail matter or merchandise. Fig. 4 is a view of the envelop closed showing in dotted lines the elongated end flap as withdrawn from the closed envelop. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the construction of my invention I first cut the material into a blank as indicated in Fig. 1 consisting of a body portion 5, a bottom flap- 6, a short rectangular end flap 7, an elongated end flap 8 and a sealing flap 9; these portions all being folded on the lines 10, 11, 12, and 13.

The end of the elongated end flap 8 is formed into a point 14: to which is secured a reinforcing strip 15 (see Fig. 5) and the same extends over the pointed end of the elongated end flap to a point indicated by dotted line 16 in Fig. 1. The flap 8 when folded on the line 12 assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, the locking end projecting slightly beyond the end of the section 5. The reinforcing strip 15 is gummed as at 17, which is to be secured to the face of the bottom flap 6 when the envelop is to be sealed for the conveyance of first class mail matter.

When the envelop is to be used for the purpose of conveying third class mail matter, as well as merchandise, the locking end is folded over the edge of the bottom flap 6 as shown in Fig. 3, the point 18 projecting beyond the edge of the sealing flap 9 so that it may be grasped and pulled outwardly so as to release its fold or look from the edge of the bottom flap 6, then the elongated end flap 8 can be withdrawn as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A portion of the bottom flap 6 as shown in Fig. 1 is gummed as at 19, and secured to the outer surface of the inturned short end flap 7.

After the envelop has been properly folded as shown in Fig. 3 and the mail matter inserted in the envelop the sealing flap is sealed against the bottom flap 6 by the gummed surface 20.

The essential feature of the invention is the folding of the locking end over the edge of the bottom flap 6 either by a single fold bringing the gum 17 in contact with the inner flap for sealing the flaps together for the purpose of carrying first-class mail matter or by a double fold as shown in Fig. 3 without the moistening of the gum 17 when desiring to mail third class matter. When it is desired to inspect the contents of an envelop carrying third class matter, the projecting point 18 is withdrawn then by inserting a pencil or other suitable device between the flap and the body, the same can be withdrawn without disturbing any sealed portion of the envelop.

By this construction of envelop the contents can not be promiscuously scrutinized, but yet ready access can be had to the same by the ofiicials without destroying the sealmg. 7

The placing of the additional reinforcing strip on the locking end is for the purpose of making that portion additionally durable so as to prevent the same from being easily torn on the line of foldings.

Having thus fully described my inventlon, what I claim as new and desire to have secured to me by the grant of Letters Patent, is:

1. An envelop comprising a body portion and a plurality of flaps, one of the end flaps being elongated and provided with a reinforced projecting point, folded twice over the bottom flap, 6, forming a lock and a projecting tab by withdrawing which the gocr may be released, substantially as speci- 2. An envelop constructed for either first or third class mail matter consisting of a body portion, an inturned short end fa an elongated end flap resting over the s ort end flap, a bottom flap partly secured to the In testimony whereof, I have signed my short end flap, a reinforcing strip applied name to this specification, in presence oftWo to the pointed end of the elongated end flap subscribing Witnesses.

and arranged to be folded over the bottom CLEVELAND F. MOULTON. flap, and a sealing flap adapted to be sealed Witnesses:

against the outer surface of the third men- ALFRED A. EIoKs,

tioned bottom flap, substantially as specified. TALTER C. STEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

